Here Comes Everybody!: Stories of Church

When Irish literary master James Joyce defined Catholicism as "Here comes everybody, " he reflected an understanding of Catholics that is both humorous and profound. Award-winning journalist Tim Unsworth does the same in this roller coaster ride through a Church that is filled with laughter and tears because it is filled with people. Unsworth's stories are true. (Details have been changed to protect both saints and sinners.) Some are simply hilarious, like the one about Phil, the gas station proprietor with the empty condom machine in the station's men's room, or the monks who got in trouble because they loaned their jeep to Catholic gays who used it to pull a float in the annual Gay Pride parade. But there are serious stories, too, about such unforgettable characters as the priest who sold his chalice to serve the poor, the homeless man who enriched a parish, the mail carrier who shares "the good news, " and a woman dying of AIDS at a Catholic hospice. Unsworth introduces us to business executives who are attempting to introduce Christ into the workplace, and to four women who express their faith in different but profound ways. He brings us into the world of the eccentric and saintly Brother Bill, who fearlessly places himself between warring gangs in the Chicago projects. In a world that pays tribute to dedicated teachers and physicians, Unsworth finds a saloon singer and a disc jockey whose dedication and faith are equally inspiring. They're all here. And more. A circus parade of Christians working out their salvation in mysterious ways - a potpourri of people you will love.